Bab 89: Chapter 89
I didn't see a hidden pathway, so with no other way out but through the now-alerted Youkai, I ripped a strip from my light green shirt and tied it around my lower face to conceal any identifying features. For my partially white hair, I ran a bloodied hand through it, streaking it red to help mask my appearance. I let out a sigh as I slowed my pace, drawing closer to the exit. 'Guess I'll see how Honjo Masamune performs.' I thought, keeping one hand on the scabbard, ready to draw. Only a few feet away from the exit, I could already hear angry shouts, one of which I assumed belonged to the Guard Captain. Lowering myself, I prepared a Shundō to cover as much distance as possible the moment I bolted out. I took a calming breath in and out.
I launched out of the cave in a burst of speed that most of the Youkai barely reacted to, bypassing them with ease. But the stronger ones were quick to catch on.
"Human, how dare you steal from us!" roared a towering Oni. He was around 8'1, with broad shoulders, dark red skin, massive horns on his head, and two tusks jutting out from his mouth. He swung a huge kanabō that was bigger than me, right at my torso. I drew Honjo Masamune, parried the blow, and aimed a strike to sever his hands.
Instead of slicing cleanly through, however, Honjo Masamune left only a red mark, like a snapped rubber band stinging his wrists. We both froze, staring at each other in surprise.
"Over there!" I shouted, pointing to his left. As he dumbly turned to look, I took the scabbard and swung it between his legs.
Pop.
I winced at the sound of the pop and watched as the Oni's skin paled slightly before he collapsed onto the ground. Around me, the other Youkai froze, staring in shock at what I'd just done.
"Y-you coward!" I heard an angry voice and turned to see a familiar dog Youkai glaring at me. 'Huh, it's the one who chased me that one time.' I thought. Before he or the others could react, I used Shundō to dash away, though some of the Youkai quickly recovered and chased after me, hurling curses and shouts to stop.
A blast of energy shot past me from the left, and I glanced over to see a young Youkai, maybe fifteen, closing in. The closer he got, the more details I could make out, light red skin, two small horns, and small tusks barely jutting from his mouth. "You bastard!" he roared as I continued sprinting toward the edge of the forest.
"My brother was set to marry the future matriarch of a prestigious clan!" he yelled. I grimaced at his next words but kept running. "But now, thanks to you, he'll never have offspring! I'll kill you and skin you for a robe!"
I finally broke out of the forest into a clearing, but before I could make a run for civilization, a barrier shimmered into place around me, trapping me inside. 'Shit.' I thought, my gaze darting around as more Youkai of all kinds started closing in from all sides.
An old, wrinkled kappa approached the barrier that trapped me, his tone controlled as he spoke. "Human, if you do not hand over the Muramasa blade now, we will pry it from your corpse."
'Muramasa?' I frowned, glancing down at Honjo Masamune in my grip. Sheathing the blade, I heard the old kappa speak again, his voice colder. "Good choice, human. We will take both eyes and your liver as payment."
Ignoring his threat, I gripped the sheathed Honjo Masamune and poured Reiatsu into it, surprised by how effortlessly it channeled my energy. 'My Reiatsu changed color.' I noted, watching as light blue Reiatsu leaked from me instead of the darker colors I was used to. 'So bright.' I thought, mesmerized for a brief moment.
As the old kappa retreated from the reach of my Reiatsu, the other Youkai looked on. Most of them cast me looks of disdain, as if I were foolish for attempting anything within the barrier. Others however, watched my Reiatsu with a hint of curiosity, their eyes tracking its unusual light blue glow.
As I raised the sheathed katana above my head, I focused half of my Reiatsu into the strike, aiming directly at the old kappa. "Cursed Slash!" I yelled out, releasing a light blue arc of energy. It sliced through the barrier effortlessly and continued its trajectory toward the kappa. Some Youkai leapt in its path, attempting to shield him. While the attack didn't cut through them, it was forceful enough to push them back.
With the Youkai distracted, I used Shundō to escape their territory, taking multiple turns along the way to lose any potential trackers. The closer I got to Retsu and Eri, the more carefully I moved, making sure I wasn't being followed.
It was eight in the morning when I returned to the hotel. Retsu was already awake, waiting for me in the chair where I had slept. She looked at me over her coffee, taking in my rough appearance. "You seem to have had quite the morning." she commented, setting her coffee down as I sat across from her in another chair. I groaned and placed Honjo Masamune on the table, earning a raised eyebrow from Retsu.
"I couldn't sleep, so I left to check out something I stumbled upon during my earlier days here." I noticed another cup of coffee on the table and started drinking it, sending a grateful nod to Retsu, who nodded back.
"I see. It doesn't seem to be like your last weapon." she observed. I nodded, rubbing my eyes. "Yeah, I read a note saying that the swordsmith who made my katana knew the creator of this one."
She hummed thoughtfully. "That's interesting. What else did you find out?"
I frowned. "Well, it doesn't seem to like cutting people, except for me. Watch this." I put my coffee cup down and unsheathed Honjo Masamune slightly, running my thumb along its edge, which cut me. Then I ran the blade along the edge of the table, but it didn't leave a mark. Retsu looked on, her curiosity piqued. "How odd."
I snorted in response but then groaned as Eri woke up crying. "Retsu, I'm not changing her."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone